County profile · Pennsylvania
Elk County, PA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Elk County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 29,926
- −3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 13,325
- Median household income
- $66,380
- +24.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $133,600
- Jobs located here
- 12,876
- Highest market score
- 76
- Real estate, #75 of 2,229 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Elk County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Elk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 29,926 people live in Elk County, in 13,325 households. Population estimates put the population change in Elk County from 2020 to 2025 at −3.3%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Elk County is $66,380 a year, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Elk County spend the most on groceries (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on pets (60).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Elk County are for real estate businesses (76), real estate agents and brokers (69) and home repair companies (64). Elk County ranks #75 of 2,229 scored counties for real estate businesses.
Elk County is part of the St. Marys area. For its number of households, Elk County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (45% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Elk County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Elk County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | 76 | #75 of 2,229 | 8 | 6.0 | Index only | 625 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 69 | #227 of 2,176 | 6 | 4.5 | Index only | 663 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 64 | #386 of 2,057 | 10 | 7.5 | $3.7M | 153 | 17 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 63 | #561 of 2,087 | 9 | 6.8 | $2.9M | 227 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 63 | #647 of 2,261 | 9 | 6.8 | $9.2M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 59 | #614 of 2,088 | 8 | 6.0 | $1.1M | 170 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 58 | #667 of 2,063 | 5 | 3.8 | $9M | 244 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #813 of 2,222 | 13 | 9.8 | $3.5M | 114 | 14 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #598 of 1,769 | 5 | 3.8 | $2.3M | 267 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 57 | #802 of 2,210 | 17 | 12.8 | $1.5M | 174 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 53 | #1,066 of 2,402 | 28 | 21.0 | $3M | 87 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 49 | #1,035 of 2,070 | 8 | 6.0 | $10.4M | 112 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 49 | #1,193 of 2,358 | 8 | 6.0 | $3.5M | 147 | 15 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #1,074 of 1,886 | 10 | 7.5 | $1.4M | 143 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 40 | #1,095 of 1,611 | 7 | 5.3 | $776K | 77 | 7 |
| Pizza | 39 | #1,488 of 2,090 | 15 | 11.3 | $3M | 59 | 14 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 38 | #1,802 of 2,385 | 41 | 30.8 | $285K | 134 | 17 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 33 | #1,909 of 2,405 | 137 | 102.8 | $330K | 89 | 50 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 31 | #1,588 of 1,889 | 14 | 10.5 | $3.2M | 78 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 30 | #1,266 of 1,490 | 6 | 4.5 | $2.3M | 98 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 29 | #2,070 of 2,405 | 65 | 48.8 | $695K | 105 | 30 |
| Insurance agencies | 27 | #1,887 of 2,272 | 17 | 12.8 | $1.3M | 105 | 15 |
| Auto repair shops | 24 | #2,171 of 2,378 | 30 | 22.5 | $391K | 88 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 22 | #1,710 of 1,771 | 15 | 11.3 | $1M | 60 | 16 |
| Auto repair and car care | 22 | #2,236 of 2,401 | 56 | 42.0 | $209K | 78 | 22 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 21 | #2,271 of 2,394 | 91 | 68.3 | $155K | 101 | 51 |
| Hair salons | 20 | #2,218 of 2,339 | 32 | 24.0 | $365K | 85 | 15 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 19 | #1,450 of 1,493 | 13 | 9.8 | $1.2M | 40 | 11 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 18 | #1,280 of 1,327 | 8 | 6.0 | $1.5M | 48 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 18 | #1,362 of 1,422 | 10 | 7.5 | $1.4M | 59 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 12 | #1,418 of 1,451 | 8 | 6.0 | $1.5M | 58 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 9 | #1,276 of 1,302 | 9 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 50 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 4 | #2,200 of 2,200 | 19 | 14.3 | $380K | 43 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 1 | #1,461 of 1,461 | 12 | 9.0 | $601K | 24 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $9.3M | 77 | 6 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $573K | 84 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $2.2M | 173 | 4 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $1.8M | 40 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $3.5M | 197 | 26 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $12.4M | 260 | 11 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $8.7M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $3M | 149 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $12.4M | 146 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4.7M | 19 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $7.5M | Too few | 5 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $26M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $9M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Elk County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.7M | $880 | 92 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $28M | $2,105 | 81 |
| Food away from home | $45.2M | $3,390 | 83 |
| Groceries | $83M | $6,226 | 99 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.7M | $878 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.4M | $407 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9M | $675 | 69 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.1M | $1,056 | 82 |
| Pets | $7.2M | $541 | 60 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $26M | $1,949 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $22.3M | $1,676 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $37.1M | $2,787 | 92 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.1M | $1,131 | 80 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $216.7M | $16,264 | 98 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Elk County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 29,926−3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 13,325
- Median age
- 47.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 827 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 37
- Median household income
- $66,380+24.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,773
- Median home value
- $133,600
- Jobs located here
- 12,876
- Daytime population
- 29,443Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Elk County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Elk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Elk County, PA growing?
Population estimates put Elk County at 29,926 people in 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 13,325 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in Elk County, PA spend?
Households in Elk County spend about $216.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $83M on groceries and $45.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Elk County runs highest on groceries (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Elk County, PA?
Of the business types scored in Elk County, real estate businesses (76), real estate agents and brokers (69) and home repair companies (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For real estate businesses, that ranks #75 of 2,229 scored counties.
How does Elk County, PA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Elk County is $66,380, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $133,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet grooming and boarding businesses (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (45% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Elk County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Elk County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Elk County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Elk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.